I had a nice conversation with Peter vd Westhuizen on Sunday. We were discussing how his dad is coaching an ever growing number of our TNB middle distance/distance runners. And how many of them are area high school coaches. And how their improvement and focus on excellence is sure to roll over to their charges. And how well that bodes for the future generations of runners from Nebraska.
TNB’s biggest contribution to Nebraska distance running may not be known for another generation or two. And it may come from South Africa.
A highlight from this past Sunday’s USATF Nebraska Association annual meeting: The Nebraska Association was awarded the Bronze Achievement Award for excellence across all programs. This is the first time ever that our Association has been thusly recognized. A big tip of the national office’s sombrero to our leadership that is committed to you, the sport, and our state. We can all be proud and hope you are too!
Our mate Jose Badillo rocked the Red & White at this past weekend’s Air Force Half Marathon in Dayton, Ohio. He blasted a 1:46:12, can you imagine having those wheels after age 70? Incredible.
The Omaha Marathon, Half Marathon, & 10K are fast upon us. We’ll have a bevy of mates lining up for one of the three races. It will be interesting to see how the new courses are received, big thanks to Gary Meyer, Tom Whitaker, Daren Konda, and RD Susie Smisek for hustling and rustling up new tours for us.
As recently reported here, Omaha running legend Gary Julin is having a very difficult time and needs your prayers and meditations. We are getting updates regularly and it is with sadness that the news is accepted. His health continues to decline rapidly but it must be comforting for him to know how respected and loved he is in this community.
Two Omaha legends: Gary Julin and Ronn Baker during happier times.
This still photo of Gary from his famous Bud Light “Heartland” television commercial for the 1984 Olympics. He earned enough in royalties to buy a jeep. He was able to keep fewer miles on the jeep than he did on his legs, think about that for a moment and you’ll know how much he loved to run. Heavy hearts.
Linda Barnhart and I have both passed the USATF background screening. We encourage all USATF LDR club representatives to do likewise!
From my old buddy Joseph O’Meara: “You are entitled to your opinion, which is, in spite of our best efforts, subjective, but you are not entitled to your own facts. Being able to distinguish between the two is fast becoming a lost intellectual skill.”
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